Where does the oil come from?

LooneyTooney

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2018
Location
Germany, Münster (Northrhine Westfalia)
TDI
Mk4 TDI ATD
Hi,

my engine (ATD) is leaking oil on the rear side (within the red circle) and I'm wondering where it comes from. Any ideas? It's not coming from the cam cover gasket as I have replaced this one a few weeks ago and cleaned the area.
(The photo does not show my engine, it's just for illustration)

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SgNqOjRxBIwecJlWhfD7I6M8zke7ovgv

Greetings
Tim
 

Nutsnbolts

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Nov 1, 2001
Location
Weare, NH
TDI
2000 Jetta, Silver Arrow
The only thing in that area besides the valve cover that I can think of would be the camshaft seal, or the crank seal. If you pull the upper timing cover off you may be able to see if it's getting flung around from below or if it's coming from the seal itself.

-Rich
 

LooneyTooney

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2018
Location
Germany, Münster (Northrhine Westfalia)
TDI
Mk4 TDI ATD
Hi, I pulled the upper timing cover off but couldn't see any oil near the camshaft.
Unfortunately I cannot pull off the rest of the timing belt cover (middle and lower ones) because it is secured firmly with screws to the engine block and I don't want fiddle around with the timing belt and the pulleys.
I also talked to the mechanic at my local garage, because - and I should have written that in my first post :D - I almost had a broken timing belt a few months ago and had the car fixed. My engine fell down on the passenger side just like it happened to some folks in these threads:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=70929
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=334816
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=361872
I don't think that they used something like a VanGogh Engine Block Saver but they renewed the bolts and screws for sure and of course the water pump and the belt. Anyhow, the mechanic told me that the oil is coming from the cylinder head gasket but I don't think that’s true because the cylinder gasket is further down.
I know that it’s quite hard (crystal ball…) to tell without inspecting the whole area (but quite expensive to take off the timing belt again): Is there any area on this side of the engine block except fort he camshaft seal that could leak oil? I changed the valve cover gasket myself and also changed the egr-system since I mounted the larger intake manifold from the larger 130/150 PD TDI. It’s not coming from above. As far as I can tell it is leaking around the area of the timing belt tensioner. Can the tensioner leak oil?
 

LooneyTooney

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2018
Location
Germany, Münster (Northrhine Westfalia)
TDI
Mk4 TDI ATD
This is not my car, but I reckon it leaks oil at the same spot my TDI does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgQKAQ5-Ddw#t=23m58s

Beginning at 23:58 (turn on high video quality) and later at 25:31 you can see some shiny oil to the left side where the tensioner belongs. Does that come from the camsahft seal?
Also, how bad is camshaft seal leak? Does it have to be fixe immediately? I didn't have to fill up any oil yet.
 

JETaah

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Jan 18, 2001
Location
mi 48836
TDI
96 B4V, 1999.5 jettaIV,2005 BEW Beetle
I'm not familiar with your engine set up but, if you have an EGR valve, the oring between the intake manifold and the valve can flatten out and leak. The EGR valve can leak charged air and oil at the pivot/shaft seal in that area or the diaphragm's relief hole (if it is vacuum operated).
 
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